Whales, Glaciers & Rainforest Trails
Duration
5 hours
This tour lasts 5 hours, giving you plenty of time to get back to your ship or next destination.
Difficulty
This tour involves a moderate hike. Nothing too crazy, just meandering through the forest.
Best For
- First-time Juneau visitors
- Cruise travelers with limited time
- Families and mixed-age groups
- Nature photographers
- Travelers who want boat + land in one tour
Group Size
Typical 12 Max 20
Guarantee
Back-to-ship guarantee included
Tour Details
This 5-hour tour combines whale watching by boat with a guided rainforest walk to Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. Expect a comfortable pace, expert guides, marine wildlife sightings, and a close-up look at some of Juneau’s most iconic scenery.
- Duration5 hours
- Meeting PointCruise ship dock
- Difficulty / Activity LevelEasy–Moderate
This 5-hour tour combines whale watching by boat with a guided rainforest walk to Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. Expect a comfortable pace, expert guides, marine wildlife sightings, and a close-up look at some of Juneau’s most iconic scenery.
- Age RequirementsNo age limit!
- Group SizeTypical 12 Max 20
- Wildlife / Sighting ExpectationsExpect a strong chance of seeing humpback whales, with possible sightings of seals, sea lions, orcas, eagles, and rainforest wildlife along the way.
Experience the Majesty of Humpback Whales
Few moments ever compare to when a humpback whale comes to the surface in the waters of Southeast Alaska. The setting and the sight of these iconic mammals are what make Juneau whale watching so special.
Brandon Hauser
Mendenhall Glacier Awaits
Once you leave the boat, our guides will lead you on a short, easy hike through the Tongass National Forest with many wildlife and plant sightings on your way to experience Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls.
Zachary Kelly
We’ve got everything covered
We provide everything you need for an incredible tour experience, from basics like life jackets to snacks and water.
Jenny Minier
Book through your cruise
If you’re with a cruise line, you can book through their portal.
Private booking available
If you’re flying or driving into Alaska, you can select a custom tour experience or join tours up to the day before they leave, based on availability.
The sights
Here’s what you can expect to see and capture on your guided tour.
Set out across Auke Bay
Your tour begins at the harbor, where your guide will welcome you aboard one of our custom vessels. As we leave the dock, the shoreline gives way to wide-open water, forested islands, and mountain views. From there, we’ll begin scanning the surface for blows, fins, tails, and other signs of marine life.
Watch the water come alive
The waters around Juneau are one of the best places in Alaska to look for humpback whales. Your captain and guides will position the boat for respectful wildlife viewing while sharing what they know about whale behavior, feeding patterns, and the larger ecosystem around you.
Walk beneath the canopy
After your time on the water, the experience continues on land with a guided walk through the Tongass National Forest. The trail gives you a closer look at Southeast Alaska’s rainforest, with moss-covered trees, native plants, wildlife signs, and the sound of moving water along the way.
Arrive at Mendenhall Glacier's wild edge
Your walk brings you toward one of Juneau’s most iconic natural landmarks: Mendenhall Glacier. With Nugget Falls nearby and the glacier beyond, this final part of the tour gives you time to take in the scale, color, and quiet power of Alaska’s ancient ice before returning from the trail.
Book through your cruise
If you’re with a cruise line, you can book through their portal.
Private booking available
If you’re flying or driving into Alaska, you can select a custom tour experience or join tours up to the day before they leave, based on availability.
What other travelers say
Travelers who've been out on the water with us come back with stories. Here's what matters most to them.
See All Trip Advisor Reviews
Over 7,800 4.9 Star Reviews!
#2 of 151 Tours & Activities in Juneau
See All Yelp Reviews
200+ 5 Star Reviews!
"Superb hike around Mendenhall Glacier."
Google Reviews
Almost 300 -- 4.9 average rating
"We had a glorious time watching whales."
We had an excellent tour with Gastineau Guiding! Sam was an excellent tour guide! He was knowledgable, friendly, and fun! Mitch was also a great whale watching boat captain! Thanks for making our Alaskan adventure unforgettable!!
Cruise passenger, Austin Texas
We saw so many whales during our excursion. Kenichi Shay was an incredible guide with so much knowledge of the area, the wildlife and whales. Our Captain was awesome too! We also learned so much during our hike to Mendenhall Glacier. Best excursion offered on our Princess Cruise. Loved being a part of small group tour as well.
Cruise passenger, Sanford, Florida
We had the pleasure of having Emma, and Captain Joe as tour guides. It was such a fun tour. Both Emma’s provided amazing stories and incredible knowledge of Alaska. Captain Joe found us some incredible whales. Would definitely recommend to our family and friends!! 🐋
Sep. 2025
My wife and I did a guided hike up to Mendenhall Galcier. Our tour guide Haylee was amazing. She had a lot and really interesting information about the glacier, the region, wildlife and more. We took a route we would have never found by ourselves.
Would always head out again with Gastineau Guiding and Haylee.
Robin und Sophi
Couple Passengers, Sep. 2025